Canadians crossing border for Viagra in U.S.

TORONTO (AP) - From Maine to the state of Washington, Canadian men are crossing the world's longest undefended border by the thousands with a common item atop their shopping lists: Viagra.

Some travel hundreds of miles; others need only cross a bridge into Detroit or Buffalo. With the famed anti-impotence drug still not approved at home, Canadians account for up to 80 percent of the Viagra purchases at some U.S. pharmacies close to the border.

"There have been a few other drugs that have drawn people across the border," said Sheila Grunhurd, manager of Longs Pharmacy in Bellingham, Wash. "But none with the same impact as Viagra."

It's an entirely different ball game."

Since Viagra won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10 months ago, more than 50 other countries have authorized its use. But in Canada, the United States' biggest trading partner, health officials are believed to be at least two months away from a move.

For now, Viagra cannot be sold in Canada, although individuals are allowed to import a three-month supply.

David Peters, owner and chief pharmacist at Treworgy Pharmacy in Calais, Me, said about 75 percent of his Viagra sales have been to Canadians. Buyers, some in their 70s and 80s, have come from as far away as Newfoundland, a trip of more than 400 miles, he said.

"People don't talk too much about it," Peters said. "But the fact many of them are coming back for refills indicates they're satisfied."

Many Canadians arrive at U.S. pharmacies with Viagra prescriptions written by their own doctors; others get prescriptions in the United States.

The situation is profitable for border-state drug stores, but an annoyance to Canadian pharmacists and a headache for Pfizer Inc., Viagra's manufacturer.

"It's a concern to us, having a significant number of Canadians using an unapproved drug," said Don Sancton, associate director of corporate affairs for Pfizer Canada.

Canadian regulations restrict drug companies' ability to distribute information about unapproved drugs. But in the case of Viagra, Pfizer has been permitted to advise people calling a telephone hotline and was allowed to send letters to Canadian doctors to help identify patients who should not use Viagra.

Pfizer applied for Canadian approval of Viagra in November 1997, just six weeks after its application to U.S. authorities. Approval from the FDA came March 27, 1998, but an initial target date of October 1998 for a decision in Canada has long since lapsed.

Pfizer says Canadian health officials have attributed the delay to understaffing, while Health Canada spokeswoman Jo Anne Ford emphasized the importance of a thorough review.

She said recent information about Viagra-related deaths in the United States has been added to the data being assessed by Canada's Health Protection Branch.

Pfizer Canada tried to get a special priority review status for its application, but Canada reserves priority reviews for drugs designed to treat life-threatening illnesses.

The result, according to Pfizer, is that Canada is now one of the last major developed countries that has yet to approve Viagra. Japan, known for its often slow approval process, gave the go-ahead for the drug Monday.

The delay has infuriated some Canadians, including Norman Paul, president of Meditrust Pharmacy Inc., Canada's leading mail-order pharmacy.

"The delay in making the drug legal here is absolutely unacceptable," he said.